Kicksite vs Spark Membership (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Spark Membership grades higher than Kicksite: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Kicksite grades higher on value for money. Spark Membership grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Kicksite
Martial arts school software for billing, attendance and belts
Spark Membership
Membership software for martial arts schools and studios
Which one is for you
Pick Kicksite if
- Fits if you run a martial arts school and want belt tracking built in
- Makes sense if your student count is small, at $49 a month for 25
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you run a non-martial-arts studio, since it is built for dojos
- Pricey if you grow: $199 a month from 101 students
- Watch out: the page mentions discounted annual pricing but does not show it
- Watch out: the pages read list no mobile apps or named integrations
Pick Spark Membership if
- Fits if you run a martial arts school with belt testing and family accounts
- Works for dance, gymnastics or yoga studios that sell recurring memberships
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you run one small studio, as the flat price is $199 a month
- Not for you if you run general fitness or salon booking, as it is built mainly for martial arts schools
- Watch out: payment processing fees are not stated on the pricing page
- Watch out: the page does not say if $199 covers more than one location or caps students
- Tight if you want to self-start, as the trial leads into a demo and setup process
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAKicksiteFair | 2.2GPASpark MembershipFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$49 a month for up to 25 students, $99 for 50 and $199 for 101 or more, in the middle of this category ($29.99 to $119). | D$199 a month for the one plan, above the $149 where the category's dearest tenth starts. It includes every feature, but the price is the same for a small school. |
| Free plan and trial | CThe first 30 days are free, and the page does not say whether a card is needed. No free plan. | CAn 8-week free trial before the $199 starts, and the listing does not say a card is needed. There is no free plan. |
| Features | CStudent profiles, attendance and belt tracking, billing, leads and communications, all on every tier. It is built for martial arts, so it suits other studios less. | BStudent records with belt history, billing, online booking, kiosk check-in, texting and point of sale are all in the one plan. Nothing in the core job is missing for a martial arts school. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. You set up students, belts and billing first. | CNo store rating on record, and the trial leads into a demo and setup call with an account rep. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, and the pages read name no apps or integrations. | BWeb plus free iPhone and Android apps for owners and members. No integrations are listed. |
| Best for | martial arts schools that charge by student count | martial arts schools with memberships |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Kicksite and Spark Membership. How we grade
Price against what you get
Kicksite starts at $49 a month and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Spark Membership starts at $199 a month and scores 2.7.
Spark Membership scores higher, and starts $150 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other salon, spa and studio booking apps on the chart, 21 score higher than Kicksite for less, and 6 score higher than Spark Membership for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Kicksite also covers reports and email campaigns.
- Spark Membership also covers marketing automation, inventory and appointment booking.
At a glance
| Kicksite | Spark Membership | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $49 per month for up to 25 students | $199 per month, after an 8-week free trial |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | First 30 days free | 8-week free trial, then $199 per month |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Kicksite | Sensei Holdco LLC |
| Price read from | kicksite.com | sparkmembership.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Kicksite
- Built for martial arts; the vendor says one-size-fits-all software is a poor fit for them, so it suits other studio types less.
- The pricing page states discounted annual pricing exists but does not show it.
- The pages read list no mobile apps or third-party integrations by name.
Spark Membership
- Pricing is a single $199 monthly plan; the page does not say whether it covers one location or limits students.
- The 8-week trial leads into a demo and setup process with an account rep.
- It is built mainly for martial arts schools, so general fitness or salon booking may fit other tools better.
- Payment processing fees are not stated on the pricing page.
Key features
Kicksite
- Student profiles
- Each student has one record with attendance history, signed documents, membership details and belt rank history, with family account support.
- Attendance and belt tracking
- Check-in tools and belt rank tracking with custom criteria for each program.
- Billing and payments
- Automated recurring billing, failed payment alerts and reporting, with integrated card processing at a flat rate.
- Lead management
- Landing pages and a CRM for tracking prospects from first contact to enrollment.
- Communications
- Built-in email and text messages, plus app announcements.
Spark Membership
- Student CRM
- Student profiles hold belt history, family accounts and attendance trends, with a trial pipeline for new leads.
- Recurring billing and payments
- Spark Payments runs billing, checkout and reporting inside the platform, so memberships are charged automatically.
- Two-way SMS
- Text replies to new leads, class reminders and reschedule messages go out automatically, and parents can text the school directly.
- Online booking and attendance
- Students book classes online, and attendance is tracked, including from a kiosk app for front-desk check-in.
- Point of sale and inventory
- Sell uniforms, gear and other items at the desk and track stock alongside memberships.
- Member apps
- Free iPhone and Android apps are offered for owners and for members.
Plans
Kicksite
0-25 students$49
per month for up to 25 students
All features included at every tier.
26-50 students$99
per month for 26 to 50 students
All features included; price follows student count.
51-100 students$149
per month for 51 to 100 students
All features included; price follows student count.
101+ students$199
per month for 101 or more students
All features included; one price for 101 students and up.
Spark Membership
Spark Membership$199
per month, after an 8-week free trial
One plan. The page says every feature is included, and student data migration is free.
Ways to pay less
Kicksite
- Other savings
Free for the rest of 2026
A site banner offers switching schools no payment until 2027; it is described as a limited-time offer.
Spark Membership
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Kicksite or Spark Membership?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Kicksite is cheaper to start with: $49 a month, against $199 a month for Spark Membership. Kicksite starts at $49 per month for up to 25 students, and Spark Membership starts at $199 per month, after an 8-week free trial.
Which has a free plan, Kicksite or Spark Membership?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Kicksite nor Spark Membership has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do Kicksite and Spark Membership run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Spark Membership lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.